Taiwan Cinema Renaissance 2025 ~Diversity in Taiwanese Society

April
[丟包阿公到我家]
 
  • World Premiere

116min / Color / Taiwanese Hakka, Filipino, Mandarin, English / 2025 / Taiwan

April
© 2025 Hakka Public Communication Foundation. “April”. All Rights Reserved.

Synopsis

After years of hard work, April, a Filipino migrant worker, must return home with the ailing Taiwanese grandpa she looks after before her critically ill mother dies. Meanwhile, Ah Wei, the grandpa's recently released son, comes home only to find the house empty. In these two parallel stories of return, both April and Ah Wei carry unspoken secrets. Adjusting to unfamiliar relationships, they unexpectedly discover that coming back home isn't the end of their journey ― it's only the beginning.

Director

Freddy Tang [唐福睿]

Born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1982, Freddy Tang earned a Master of Laws and practiced law for five years before turning to writing and directing. His works include the feature film Fantasy World and the TV series "Port of Lies", adapted from his award-winning novel. He blends legal insight with humanistic storytelling, portraying the struggles of the marginalized.
Freddy Tang

Staff

Executive Producer: Tung Cheng-yu
Director/Screenplay: Freddy Tang
Production Supervisor: Tseng Han-ting
Art Director: Chao Shih-hao
Cinematographer: Chen Chih-hsuan
Cinematographer: Curtis Lin
Editor: Lai Hsiu-hsiung
Music Director: Lin Sheng-xiang
Supervising Sound Editor: Wu Shu-yao
Supervising Sound Editor: Tu Duu-chih

Cast

Liu Kuan-ting
Angel Aquino
Zhang Xiao-xiong
Kaiser Chuang
Esther Huang
Crown Shyness
[樹冠羞避]
 
  • International Premiere

80min / Color / Chinese, Taiwanese, Thai / 2024.12 / Taiwan

Crown Shyness
©PUBLIC TELEVISION SERVICE FOUNDATION

Synopsis

After three years of pandemic, Nian’s mother, Ling, returns to Taiwan, with a diagnosis of cancer. Her death brings Nian’s traditional grandmother, Hao, into her home — shared with Zai-zai, Nian’s hidden partner. Tensions rise as secrets unravel, including Ling’s past love in China and Zai’s daughter in Thailand. Zai leaves, and Nian feels everything slipping away. Unexpectedly, Hao encourages healing. Together, they face farewell. Under crown shyness, Nian finally understands: It’s not about distance. As long as we choose to connect, love will always exist.

Director

Chang Chun-yu [張均瑜]

Born in Taichung, Taiwan in 1997, Chang Chun-yu is a screenwriter and director, and an alumna of the Taipei National University of the Arts. Her graduation short Unnamed premiered at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and has since garnered numerous international laurels, including the Best Short Film award at the Sydney Taiwan Film Festival and a selection at Frameline, among others.
Chang Chun-yu

Staff

Executive Producer: Yu Pei-hua
Director/Screenplay/Editor: Chang Chun-yu
Producer: Wang Yan-ping
Producer: Wang Tzu-yuan
Director of Photography: Amber Yi-fan Hsiao Production Designer: Wu Yi (51 Wu)
Sound Mixer: Wayne Lee
Stylist: Ziyu Lin
Editor: Chen Shao-chun
Sound Designer: Allen Kang

Cast

Han Ning
Doris Wu
Varita Udomvorakulchai
Chang Chang-mien
Double Happiness
[雙囍]
 
  • World Premiere

130min / Color / Mandarin, Taiwanese, Japanese / 2025 / Taiwan

Double Happiness
© Splash Pictures, Inc

Synopsis

Tim Kao, the meticulous head chef of a five-star hotel in Taiwan, is set to marry his Hong Kong fiancée Daisy Wu. But Tim’s divorced parents refuse to attend the same ceremony — and each insists on hosting their own. To complicate things further, the Feng Shui master chooses the same auspicious date for both events. Tim, Daisy, their wedding planner Regina, and the best man Tsai must orchestrate two weddings simultaneously in the same hotel, without either parent finding out. Surrounded by a strict father, a demanding mother, and a cast of sharp-tongued relatives, Tim must confront the traumas of his upbringing and ask himself: is he truly ready to start a new family of his own?

Director

Joseph Chen-chieh Hsu [許承傑]

Born in Taiwan in 1986, Joseph Chen-cieh Hsu received an MFA in Film Production at New York University Tisch Asia. He was a 2024 Sundance Asia Screenwriting Intensive fellow, and alumnus at Berlinale Talents Tokyo in 2014. His debut feature film Little Big Women premiered at 33rd Tokyo International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, and received 6 nominations at Taipei Golden Horse Film Awards.
Joseph Chen-chieh Hsu

Staff

Director/Screenplay: Joseph Chen-chieh Hsu
Producer: Clifford Miu
Producer: Zhang Linhan
Screenplay: Hsieh Pei-jui
Cinematographer: Chen Ko Chin
Editor: Chen Chun-hung
Line Producer: Amo Chang
Executive Producer: Annie Yang
Executive Producer: Tony Luo
Executive Producer: Eric Huang
Executive Producer: Rita Lin
Executive Producer: Simon Chen

Cast

Liu Kuan-ting
Jennifer Yu
The Waves Will Carry Us
[人生海海]
 
  • Japanese Premiere

100min / Color / Mandarin, Malay, Cantonese / 2025 / Taiwan

The Waves Will Carry Us
© 2025 COPYRIGHT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED BY HUMMINGBIRD PRODUCTION CO., LTD.

Synopsis

When Ah Yao returns to Malaysia for his father's funeral, he expects grief, not chaos. But everything turns upside down when the religious police storm in, claiming his father ― who secretly converted to Islam ― must be buried in an Islamic cemetery. Refusing to let go, Ah Yao and his siblings set out on a wild, darkly comedic journey to reclaim the body, confronting cultural clashes, family secrets, and absurd obstacles along the way.

Director

Lau Kek-huat [廖克發]

Lau Kek-huat is a Malaysian-born filmmaker based in Taiwan. His debut film Boluomi was selected for Busan International Film Festival in the New Currents section, and was nominated for the Best New Director at the 56th Golden Horse Award. His documentary, From Island to Island, won the Best Documentary in the 61st Golden Horse Award, Taipei Film Festival and TIDF.
Lau Kek-huat

Staff

Director/Screenplay: Lau Kek-huat
Executive Producer: Tony Hu
Executive Producer: Jin Ong
Executive Producer: Nicole Teoh
Producer: Kaze Ng
Cinematographer: Tsai Wei-Long
Editor: Soo Mun Thye
Editor: Jessica Wan Yu Lin
Art Director: Soon Yong-chow
Art Director: Cheng Chih-han

Cast

Vera Chen
Wei Chun-chan
Fabian Loo
Platinum Partner
footer_sponsorfooter_sponsorhttps://www.sony.jp/bravia/